Women inactive in the labour market due to family responsibilities. The authorities' solution
More than half of Moldova's population, mostly women aged 25-34, is inactive on the labour market because of family responsibilities, a study shows. To increase women's participation in the workforce, employers are encouraged to develop childcare facilities in their institutions, according to a draft law under public debate. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the number of crèche groups in early education institutions is to be expanded.
Employers are finding it difficult to identify and hire labour, as a special category of inactive people are women with children up to the age of 3, says Leonid Cerescu, president of the National Confederation of Employers. He pointed out that due to the lack of extensive childcare services, parents tend to stay on leave for long periods, which creates risks for employers.
"One limitation that prevents them from returning to work is the fact that pre-school institutions only accept children between two and three years old for placement. In these circumstances, parents tend to stay for a long period of time on childcare leave, creating risks for employers by reducing parents' qualifications during their absence," explained Leonid Cerescu.
The opening of childcare at work is an alternative that will increase the participation of women and men in the company, said Action and Solidarity Party MP Marina Morozova.
"This implies that you could provide a space for employees to take care of children. You could offer that space for small children, up to two years old, up to three years old, and if parents want to return to work and they don't have the possibility in the locality to give their child to a daycare group, as employers you could offer that child-friendly space with an educator to be hired by you."
For her part, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Felicia Bechtoldt said the institution had approved an ambitious programme to expand alternative childcare. She said that the project, which will encourage employers to open childcare services in their companies, is expected to be approved at next week's meeting of the Executive.
"Childcare services, it is very important that they are affordable and of high quality, and this will contribute to women's participation in the labour market, their return from childcare leave, reconciliation of work and family life, as well as strengthening gender equality."
Felicia Bechtoldt added that thanks to the financial support of €3 million from Romania, the number of crèche groups for children up to three years old in early education institutions will be expanded.
